ADP detection based luminescent phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase assay

ABSTRACT

The invention provides compositions and methods to determine or detect the activity of enzymes, including phosphotransferases such as kinases (e.g., protein, lipid, and sugar kinases) and ATP hydrolases such as ATPases, e.g., HSP90, that employ ATP as a substrate and form ADP as a product by monitoring changes in ADP. Methods, kits and compositions for monitoring changes in metabolites such as ADP are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/460,573 filed Jul. 20, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/182,372 filed May 29, 2009, 61/170,308 filed Apr. 17, 2009 and 61/082,775 filed Jul. 22, 2008, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Due to their physiological relevance, variety and ubiquitousness, transferases, especially kinases, have become one of the most important and widely studied families of enzymes in biochemical and medical research. Studies have shown that protein and lipid kinases are key regulators of many cell functions, including signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, cell motility, cell division and cellular responses to drugs, toxins, and pathogens.

Protein kinases play crucial roles in the modulation of a wide variety of cellular events. These enzymes act by transferring phosphate residues to certain amino acids in intracellular polypeptides to bring about the activation of these protein substrates and set in motion a cascade of activation controlling events including growth, differentiation and division of cells. Protein kinases have been extensively studied in the field of tumour biology. A lack of controlled activity of kinases in cells is believed to lead to the formation of tumours. The pharmaceutical industry is constantly in search of drugs that target these kinases to help with the treatment of a wide variety of tumours. There are over 500 protein kinases (about 2 to 2.5% of the human genome) that are involved in the regulation of cell functions. They occur as both transmembrane and cytosolic enzymes, and they phosphorylate serine, threonine and tyrosine amino acid residues. Based on these substrate specificities, the kinases are divided into two groups, the serine/threonine kinases and tyrosine kinases.

Serine/threonine kinases include cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP dependent protein kinases, calcium and phospholipid dependent protein kinase, calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, casein kinases, cell cycle protein kinases and others. These kinases are usually cytoplasmic or associated with the particulate fractions of cells, possibly by anchoring proteins.

Tyrosine kinases phosphorylate tyrosine residues. These particular kinases are present in much smaller numbers but play an equally important role in cell regulation. These kinases include several soluble enzymes such as the src family of protein kinases and receptors for growth factors such as epidermal growth factor receptor, insulin receptor, platelet derived growth factor receptor, and others. Studies have indicated that many tyrosine kinases are transmembrane proteins with their receptor domains located on the outside of the cell and their kinase domains on the inside.

Lipid kinases also play important roles in the intracellular signal transduction and have been grouped into four major classes. Exemplary lipid kinases include PI3 kinases and phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases.

Sugar kinases and other phosphotransferases also play a major role in cellular metabolism, proliferation and apoptosis.

With phosphorylation events involved in so many cell functions and diseases, identifying kinase activity is tremendously important. Current types of assays used to measure kinase activity include Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assays, Fluorescent Polarization (FP) assays, and assays based on radioactivity such as Scintillation Proximity Assay (SPA). FRET assays used to detect kinase activity utilize a protein or peptide substrate that is linked to a fluorescent molecule and another fluorescently labeled probe. The two fluorescent molecules are in close proximity only when the substrate is phosphorylated and recognized by the labeled probe. Thus, when phosphorylated by a kinase, the energy of the label is passed to the fluorescent molecule (the acceptor) through resonance. The ability of a higher energy donor fluorophore to transfer energy directly to a lower energy acceptor molecule causes sensitized fluorescence of the acceptor molecule and simultaneously quenches the donor fluorescence. In this case, the fluorescence of the donor is “quenched” by the proximity to the acceptor and the energy of the donor is transferred to the acceptor in a non-radioactive manner. The efficiency of energy transfer is dependent on the distance between the donor and acceptor chromophores according to the Forster equation. In most cases, no FRET is observed at distances of greater than 100 angstroms, and thus the presence of FRET is a good indicator of close proximity. Accordingly, in a FRET assay to detect kinase activity that employs a protein or peptide substrate that is linked to a fluorescent molecule and another fluorescently labeled probe, if the kinase is inhibited, the two fluorescent molecules remain separated and no FRET occurs.

FRET based assays have a number of drawbacks including a large number of false hits, e.g., due to fluorescent interference with the compounds being tested, a narrow dynamic range, and performance issues associated with the antibody employed in the assay.

FP assays are based on binding of a high affinity binding reagent, such as an antibody, a chelating atom, or the like, to a fluorescent labeled molecule. For example, an antibody that binds to a phosphorylated fluorescent labeled peptide but not a non-phosphorylated fluorescent labeled peptide can be used for a kinase assay. Other methods utilize a fluorescent labeled antibody that binds ADP, the other kinase reaction product, in monitoring kinase activity. When the fluorescent label is excited with plane polarized light, it emits light in the same polarized plane as long as the fluorescent label remains stationary throughout the excited state (duration of the excited state varies with fluorophore, and is 4 nanoseconds for fluoroscein). If polarized light is used to excite the fluorophore, the emission light intensity can be monitored in both the plane parallel to the plane of polarization (the excitation plane) and in the plane perpendicular to the plane of polarization. An FP assay requires a high affinity binding reagent, e.g., an antibody, capable of binding with high specificity to the fluorescent labeled molecule. The time consuming and costly optimization of an antibody binding with specific fluorescent labeled molecules such as peptides is required where antibodies are used. Additionally, in the FP assay there is the potential for phosphorylated protein and other reaction components, e.g., lipids and detergents, to interfere with the polarization.

Kinase assays that use radioactive labels include SPA. In SPA, modified ligand-specific or ligand-capturing molecules are coupled to fluoromicrospheres, which are solid-phase support particles or beads impregnated with substances that emit energy when excited by radioactively labeled molecules. When added to a modified ligand such as radio-labeled phosphopeptide in a mixture with nonphosphorylated peptide, only the phosphopeptide is captured on a fluoromicrosphere, bringing any bound radiolabeled peptide close enough to allow the radiation energy emitted to activate the fluoromicrosphere and emit light energy. If the concentration of fluoromicrospheres is optimized, only the signal from the radio-labeled ligand bound to the target is detected, eliminating the need for any separation of bound and free ligand. The level of light energy emitted may be measured in a liquid scintillation counter and is indicative of the extent to which the ligand is bound to the target. A SPA requires the fluoromicrospheres to settle by gravity or be centrifuged, adding an additional step and time to the assay. In addition, due to the high energy of ³²P used in this assay, most of the radioactivity passes through without being captured by the fluoromicrospheres.

Other methods also have been developed for detecting kinase activity that are based on luminescence detection, either by bioluminescence or chemiluminescences. Generally, these methods rely on specific substrates and antibodies, the use of microchips and fluorescent label probes, substrate concentration in a sample, the use of multiple steps and reagents (U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,711) or are limited to specific kinases (Sala-Newby et al., 1992).

Many currently available kinase assays perform well with enzymes that consume a high amount of ATP during the reaction, but are not sensitive enough to detect the small changes in ATP amount that define kinases with low ATP turnover, like growth factor receptor kinases. On the contrary, the available assays that could analyze this type of enzyme are specific for a subset of kinases and/or not sensitive enough to be used with a broad range of kinases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides compositions and methods to determine or detect the activity of enzymes, including phosphotransferases such as kinases (e.g., protein, lipid, and sugar kinases) and ATP hydrolases such as ATPases, e.g., HSP90, that employ ATP as a substrate and form ADP as a product by monitoring changes in ADP. In order to monitor ADP formation, ADP is converted to ATP and an ATP-dependent bioluminescent reaction, such as a luciferase/luciferin reaction, is employed to detect ATP. Prior to the bioluminescent reaction which requires ATP, e.g., a luciferase-mediated reaction, and the conversion of ADP to ATP by a nucleotide kinase such as an ADP to ATP converting enzyme, the ATP remaining after the kinase or ATPase reaction is substantially reduced, e.g., to less than 2,%, 1%, 0.75%, 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.05%. 0.025%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.001%, 0.0001% or less of the ADP formed or amount of ATP initially present in the reaction mixture, or eliminated. In one embodiment, an adenylate cyclase such as a bacterial adenylate cyclase is employed to convert the residual ATP to cAMP, a product that does not have or does not have a significant effect on an ADP converting enzyme reaction or on an ATP-dependent bioluminescent reaction. Once the residual ATP is reduced to a minimum or eliminated, the ADP formed in the kinase or ATPase reaction is converted to ATP using an enzyme capable of converting ADP to ATP, such as adenylate kinase (myokinase), creatine kinase, or pyruvate kinase and the like. In some embodiments, the activity of the enzyme that converts the ATP to the non-ADP product is inhibited prior to converting the ADP in the solution to ATP or performing the bioluminescent reaction. When this is the case, the enzyme that converts the ATP to the non-ADP product will not interfere with production of ATP from the ADP or the detection of the ATP with the bioluminescent reaction. The newly formed ATP is then measured using light generated by the bioluminescent reaction, e.g., measured with a luminometer. In general, the methods to convert the ADP to ATP and then the ATP to light include adding a composition comprising a bioluminescence generating enzyme such as a luciferase, e.g., a native or recombinant luciferase such as a firefly or click beetle luciferase, a bioluminogenic substrate such as luciferin or a luciferin derivative that is a substrate of the luciferase, an ADP to ATP converting enzyme such as a kinase and optionally (if needed) a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, to a reaction mixture having ADP generated by a kinase or ATPase reaction. The composition may be admixed before use by adding a solution comprising reagents other than luciferase to lyophilized luciferase. In another embodiment, the composition may be admixed before use by adding a solution comprising reagents other than luciferase and luciferin or luciferin derivative to lyophilized luciferase and lyophilized luciferin or a derivative thereof.

Those skilled in the art recognize that the bioluminescent reaction indicates the presence or absence of ADP in the solution or provides a measure of the ADP in the solution. When a measure of the ADP in the solution is desired, the results from the bioluminescent reaction may be compared against one or more standards or control reactions.

The invention also provides compositions and kits that are used to detect phosphotransferase activity, such as kinase activity, or ATP hydrolase activity, such as ATPase activity, in a sample. In one embodiment, the invention provides a composition or kit comprising an isolated enzyme that converts ATP to a non-ADP substrate, for example, adenylate cyclase which converts ATP to cAMP and a pyrophosphatase. The kit may further include one or more of a kinase enzyme, a substrate for the kinase enzyme, an enzyme that converts ADP to ATP, for example, pyruvate kinase, a phosphate donor that can be used by the enzyme that converts ADP to ATP, for example, phosphoenol pyruvate, a luciferase enzyme and/or a substrate for the luciferase enzyme, for example luciferin or a derivative thereof,

The kit can optionally include one or more of an inhibitor of a phosphotransferase or an ATP hydrolase that converts ATP to ADP, or an effective amount of an activator of the adenylate cyclase.

Exemplary adenylate cyclases that may be used in the methods, kits or compositions described herein include but are not limited to bacterial adenylate cyclases such as those from Bortedella pertussis, Bacillus anthracis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherchia coli, Bdellovibrio spp., Vibrio spp., Yersinia spp., Erwinia spp., Enterobacter spp., or Shewanella spp., or a fragment of a full length bacterial adenylate cyclase with adenylate cyclase activity, e.g., a recombinant fragment of a bacterial adenylate cyclase with adenylate cyclase activity (e.g., see FIG. 4), a eukaryotic adenylate cyclase such as a calmodulin activated eukaryotic adenylate cyclase, an algal adenylate cyclase such as a Spirulina platenis adenylate cyclase, porcine, non-human primate, canine, bovine, rodent, or human adenylate cyclase, e.g., ADCY1, ADCY2, ADCY3, ADCY4, ADCY5, ADCY6, ADCY7, ADCY8, ADCY9 or ADCY10, or adenylate cyclase isoforms I, III and VIII, which are stimulated by Ca²⁺/calmodulin, or isoforms V and VI which are inhibited by Ca²⁺ in a calmodulin-independent manner, or a fragment thereof with adenylate cyclase activity.

In one embodiment, the composition or kit comprises one or more inhibitors of a kinase. In one embodiment, the composition or kit comprises one or more inhibitors of ATPase. In another embodiment, if the composition does not include an inhibitor(s) of a phosphotransferase, such as a kinase, or an ATP hydrolase, such as an ATPase, the activity of the phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase may be inactivated by other means, e.g., using heat, prior to adding the adenylate cyclase. However, the inactivation of the phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase may not be needed in order to carry out the present invention. In one embodiment, the composition or kit comprises isolated bacterial adenylate cyclase, such as one that is activatable, e.g., by an activator such as calmodulin. In one embodiment, the composition or kit comprises an isolated calmodulin stimulatable bacterial adenylate cyclase, staurosporin, a pyrophosphatase, and optionally calmodulin. A suitable pyrophosphatase includes yeast pyrophosphatase. In another embodiment, the composition or kit comprises one or more inhibitors of a kinase or ATPase, a pyrophosphatase and an activator of adenylate cyclase. In one embodiment, a kit may comprise a first composition comprising one or more of one or more inhibitors of a kinase or ATPase, a pyrophosphatase and an activator of adenylate cyclase and a second composition comprising an adenylate cyclase. Kits may include each reagent in a separate container or may combine two or more reagents in a container.

Also provided is a composition or kit comprising an inhibitor (i.e., an ATP binding site competitor, e.g., an ATP analog, or a catalytic domain inhibitor such as PMEA (9-(2-phosphorylmethoxyethyl)-adenine) or PMEApp analogs) of an adenylate cyclase and optionally an isolated ADP to ATP converting enzyme that converts ADP to ATP. In one embodiment, the composition or kit comprises an inhibitor of an activated bacterial adenylate cyclase, e.g., an inhibitor of a calmodulin activated bacterial adenylate cyclase or a fragment thereof with adenylate cyclase activity and at least one ADP to ATP converting enzyme, such as adenylate kinase, creatine kinase, or pyruvate kinase. In one embodiment, the composition or kit comprises an inhibitor of an adenylate cyclase and a substrate for isolated ADP to ATP converting enzyme. In one embodiment, the composition or kit further comprises the isolated ADP to ATP converting enzyme. In one embodiment, the composition or kit further comprises a bioluminescent enzyme such as luciferase, and a substrate for the bioluminescent enzyme, e.g., D-luciferin.

In addition, the invention provides a composition which comprises an ADP to ATP converting enzyme, an agent for a bioluminescent enzyme-mediated reaction which include a detergent in an amount that inactivates adenylate cyclase and optionally a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme.

Further provided is a method to convert ATP in a mixture comprising ADP and ATP, to cAMP and PPi or cAMP and Pi. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a first reaction mixture for a phosphotransferase, e.g., a kinase, or an ATP hydrolase, e.g., an ATPase, that converts ATP to ADP, comprising ATP and a sample suspected of having the phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase and contacting the first reaction mixture with an amount of an isolated active adenylate cyclase and a pyrophosphatase, and optionally one or more inhibitors of the phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase, effective to yield a second reaction mixture comprising cAMP, Pi, and if the phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase is present in the sample, ADP. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a first reaction mixture for a kinase or ATPase that converts ATP to ADP comprising ATP and a sample suspected of having the kinase or ATPase and contacting the first reaction mixture with an amount of an isolated active adenylate cyclase and optionally one or more inhibitors of the kinase or ATPase effective to yield a second reaction mixture comprising cAMP, PPi, and if the kinase or ATPase is present in the sample, ADP. The amount of Pi or PPi generated does not substantially inhibit an ADP to ATP converting enzyme reaction or an ATP-dependent bioluminescent enzyme reaction. In one embodiment, the second reaction mixture is contacted with an inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase, an ADP to ATP converting enzyme, optionally a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, and also optionally a bioluminescent enzyme and a substrate therefore to yield a third reaction mixture. After addition of a bioluminescent enzyme and a substrate therefore, such as luciferase and luciferin, either at the same time as the inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase and the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, or after addition the inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase and the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, luminescence in the third reaction mixture is detected. In one embodiment, the reaction mixtures for converting ADP to ATP and the bioluminescent enzyme are combined in one solution. Control reactions include reactions that do not include a phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase.

In addition, the invention provides a method to identify modulators of a phosphotransferase such as a kinase or an ATP hydrolase, e.g., ATPase, that convert ATP to ADP. The method includes providing a first reaction mixture comprising one or more test agents, one or more phosphotransferases or ATP hydrolases that convert ATP to ADP, e.g., one or more isolated kinases or cells expressing recombinant kinase or a lysate thereof, and ATP, contacting the first reaction mixture with an amount of at least one isolated active adenylate cyclase and at least one pyrophosphatase, and optionally one or more inhibitors of the one or more phosphotransferases or ATP hydrolases, to yield a second reaction mixture comprising cAMP, Pi and the ADP. The second reaction mixture is contacted with one or more inhibitors of the adenylate cyclase, one or more ADP to ATP converting enzymes, a bioluminescent enzyme and a substrate therefore, such as luciferase and luciferin, to yield a third reaction mixture. After addition of the bioluminescent enzyme and a substrate therefor, either at the same time as the inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase and the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, or after addition of the inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase and the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, luminescence in the third reaction mixture is detected. In one embodiment, the reaction mixture for converting ADP to ATP and the bioluminescent enzyme reactions are combined in one solution. Control reactions include reactions that do not include a phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase or may include a known inhibitor or activator of the phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase.

For example, the agent(s) to be tested in the method may be identified as a kinase or ATPase inhibitor if the activity of the kinase or the ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) is lower than the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the absence of the agent(s). In one embodiment, the agent to be tested is identified as a kinase or ATPase inhibitor if the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) is less than 95% of the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the absence of the agent(s). In one embodiment, the agent to be tested is identified as a kinase or ATPase inhibitor if the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) is less than 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 2%, 1% or less of the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the absence of the agent(s). In yet another embodiment, the agent to be tested is identified as a kinase or ATPase inhibitor if the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) is less than 50% of the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the absence of the agent(s).

In another example, the agent to be tested is identified as a kinase or ATPase activator if the activity of the kinase or the ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) is higher than the activity of the kinase or the ATPase in the absence of the agent(s). In one embodiment, the agent to be tested is identified as a kinase or ATPase activator if the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) is more than 10% greater that the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the absence of the agent(s). In one embodiment, the agent to be tested is identified as a kinase or ATPase activator if the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) is more than 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 75%, 100% or 200% greater than the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the absence of the agent(s). In a further embodiment, the agent to be tested is identified as a kinase or ATPase activator if the kinase or ATPase in the presence of the agent(s) at least 50% greater than the activity of the kinase or ATPase in the absence of the agent(s).

The invention thus provides methods, compositions and kits that are used for detection of phosphotransferase, e.g., kinase, or ATP hydrolase, e.g., ATPase, activity in a sample. In some embodiments, the methods, compositions and kits are antibody free, and the homogeneous methods described herein are fast, sensitive, simple, and non-radioactive. The methods are convenient and can be used with any instrumentation platform. Reagents required can be designed with relative ease and may be synthesized readily. The reagents may facilitate measurement of activity in many samples in a high throughput format over a long period of time due to the high signal stability generated by a luminogenic reaction, thus eliminating the need for luminometers with reagent injectors and allowing for batch-mode processing of multiple samples.

In one embodiment, the present methods can be performed in a single well in a multi-well plate making them suitable for use as high throughput screening methods. The method may be employed with various amounts of ATP, kinase or ATPase, test agents, or any combination thereof, and at different reaction temperatures. The method of the present invention can be utilized to detect activity over a wide range of ADP or ATP concentrations, generally from about 1 μM or less to about 5 mM or more of ADP or ATP. In some embodiments, ADP or ATP concentration as low as 0.5 μM, 0.25 μM, 0.1 μM, 0.01 μM, 1 nM, 0.1 nM, 0.01 nM, 1 picoM or less may be detected using the methods, compositions or kits described herein. In some embodiments, 20 nM of ADP in 10 micoliters of solution (0.2 pM ADP) can be detected. For instance, the method may be used to detect kinase activity at low concentration levels of ATP, generally below 5 μM of ATP, as well as in the range of about 1 mM to about 5 mM of ATP. Although the methods of the invention may be used with a sample containing virtually any amount of ADP or ATP.

The kits of the invention are designed to detect and quantitate phosphotransferase, e.g., kinase, or ATP hydrolase, e.g., ATPase, activity in a sample or to determine the effects of test agents, e.g., those in a library such as a combinational library, on phosphotransferase, e.g., kinase, or ATP hydrolase, e.g., ATPase, activity. In one embodiment, a kit that is used to detect kinase or ATPase activity in a sample may comprise lyophilized luciferase, or lyophilized luciferase and luciferin, in one container, while another container contains reconstitution buffer with one or more ADP to ATP converting enzymes or a substrate therefore, or an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, or a combination thereof. The kit may also supply magnesium or other cations such as manganese or calcium. To facilitate the use of control experiments with known concentrations of ADP or ATP, or a kinase or ATPase, a container that has ADP, ATP, isolated kinase or isolated ATPase, may also be supplied in such kits. The kit may also supply a compound that inhibits kinase or ATPase activity (e.g., staurosporine), e.g., in solution. A composition comprising the kinase or ATPase inhibitor may comprise more than one inhibitor. The kit may supply one or more isolated ADP to ATP converting enzymes and optionally substrates therefore, which are phosphate group donors (e.g., phosphocreatine, phosphoenolpyruvate or polyphosphate), or other isolated enzymes, such as isolated adenylate cyclases, or pyrophosphatase.

In one embodiment, the kit comprises a container comprising a buffered solution, e.g., about pH 6.0 to about pH 8.0, having isolated adenylate cyclase, optionally one or more kinase or ATPase inhibitors, and optionally a pyrophosphatase. The kit may additionally comprise a separate container comprising lyophilized luciferase, or optionally comprise a separate container comprising an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, a kinase and optionally a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme. In one embodiment, the container comprising lyophilized luciferase further comprises lyophilized luciferin or a derivative thereof that is a luciferase substrate. Optionally, the kit further comprises instructions for use of the kit for the purpose of measuring ADP.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a scheme of the ADP detection assay where adenylate cyclase (AC) is used prior to the detection step to remove the ATP remaining after the ADP-forming reaction.

FIG. 2 illustrates the potency of AC to deplete all ATP present in the reaction.

FIG. 3 illustrates ATP depletion with two bacterial ACs, Bordetella pertussis and Bacillus anthracis.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the recombinant full length AC (170 Kd) and catalytic domain (43 Kd) have similar activity.

FIG. 5 illustrates the inhibition of AC by 4 calmodulin antagonists.

FIG. 6 illustrates the results of calmidazolium inhibition of AC.

FIG. 7 illustrates the sensitivity of the assay to detect different concentrations of ADP in the presence of ATP.

FIG. 8 illustrates the results obtained when AC from two different bacteria was used in the ADP detection assay after a PKA kinase reaction.

FIG. 9 illustrates the optional use of kinase or ATPase inhibitors to stop the kinase or ATPase reactions.

FIG. 10 illustrates the results of the protein kinase PKA titration which employed compositions of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the results of PKA substrate (kemptide) titration which employed compositions of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates the results of ATP titration in a PKA kinase reaction using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates the results of the effect of different inhibitors on PKA activity.

FIG. 14 illustrates the results of the lipid kinase PI3 titration which employed compositions of the invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates the results of ATP titration in a PI3 lipid kinase reaction which used compositions of the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates the results of PI3 lipid kinase substrate (phosphatidylinositol) titration using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates the results of a wortmanin induced inhibition of PI3 lipid kinase using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates the results of sphingosine kinase (SPHK) titration using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates the results of receptor tyrosine kinase EGFR titration using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates the results of ATP titration in an EGFR kinase reaction using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates the results of the MAP kinase ERK2 titration using a protein substrate (MBP) and compositions of the invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates the results of the sugar kinase hexokinase titration using glucose as a substrate and compositions of the invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates the results of ATP and enzyme titration in an Hsp70 ATPase reaction employing compositions of the invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates the results of linear DNA substrate titration study in an ATP dependent DNase reaction using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates the results of the Na+/K+ ATPase titration study using compositions of the invention.

FIGS. 26-27 illustrate the results of the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) activity titration study in the presence of inhibitor and activator drugs using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 28 illustrates the results of the SV40 Large T antigen intrinsic helicase activity titration using compositions of the invention.

FIG. 29 illustrates the capability of the assay to be performed in 2 or 3 steps with similar results.

FIG. 30 illustrates the use of creatine phosphokinase in the ADP to ATP conversion step.

FIG. 31 illustrates the alternative use of adenylate kinase (myokinase) in the ADP to ATP conversion step.

FIG. 32 illustrates the alternative use of the invention to deplete contaminating free ATP from a solution prior to the detection of cellular ATP content.

FIGS. 33A-33H provide exemplary sequences for adenylate cyclases (SEQ ID NOs: 1-9; NCBI Accession Nos. Y00545, M24074, YP016473, NP652900, AP003604, AA01202, P15318 and Q57506), and ADP to ATP converting enzymes (SEQ ID NOs: 10-15; NP_(—)067248, NP_(—)031736, AAC31758, AAF06820 and NP_(—)077352).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All cited patents and publications are incorporated by reference in their entirety unless otherwise noted.

An “isolated” or “purified” enzyme such as an adenylate cyclase, kinase, ATPase or luciferase is one that has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment.

The term “sample” as used herein, is used in its broadest sense. A sample is a composition suspected of kinase or ATPase activity that is analyzed using the invention. While often a sample is known to contain or suspected of containing kinase or ATPase activity, optionally in a growth media, or a cell lysate, a sample may also be a solid surface (e.g., a swab, membrane, filter, particle) suspected of containing kinase or ATPase activity. It is contemplated that for such a solid sample, an aqueous sample is made by adding the solid to the reagent composition of the invention or to another aqueous solution to which the reagent composition of the invention is added.

The term “detection,” as used herein, refers to quantitatively or qualitatively determining the presence or absence of a component within the sample.

“Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity” is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in one sequence that are identical to, with, or against amino acid residues in a second sequence in the region of overlap when the two sequences are optimally aligned. To determine percent amino acid identity, sequences are locally aligned and if necessary, gaps are introduced to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity; conservative substitutions are not counted when calculating sequence identity. Amino acid sequence alignment procedures to determine percent identity are well known to those of skill in the art. Publicly available computer software such as BLAST software (NCBI at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/) may be used to align peptide sequences. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate algorithms and parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms and parameters needed to achieve optimal alignment of two amino acid sequences.

When amino acid sequences are aligned, the percent amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acid sequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B (which can alternatively be phrased as a given amino acid sequence A that has or comprises a certain percent amino acid sequence identity to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B) can be calculated as: % amino acid sequence identity=(X/Y)·100 where X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matches in the optimal alignment of A and B by the sequence alignment program or algorithm and Y is the total number of amino acid positions aligned.

The term “luminescent”, as used herein, includes bio-luminescence (i.e., light produced by a living organism), chemiluminescence (light produced when a chemical reaction proceeds), and electrochemical-luminescence. When the enzyme involved has evolved in an organism by natural selection for the purpose of generating light, or the enzyme involved is a mutated derivative of such an enzyme, the luminescent reactions are also called “bioluminescent reactions” and the enzyme involved is also called a “bioluminescent enzyme.” Examples of bioluminescent enzymes include, without limitation, firefly luciferase, Renilla luciferase, Cypridina luciferase, Aequorin photoprotein, Gaussia luciferase, Oplophorus luciferase, Obelin photoprotein, and the like.

The term “luminogenic molecule” as used herein refers to a molecule capable of creating light via a chemical or biochemical reaction (e.g., luciferin, coelenterazine, or a functional analog thereof). Suitable luminogenic molecules or substrates for luciferase enzymes include luciferins, coelenterazines and functional analogs of luciferins and coelenterazines. In some embodiments, functional analogs of luciferins and coelenterazines include modified luciferins and coelenterazines, including derivatives of these compounds. Exemplary compounds include those disclosed in WO 03/040100, WO 2004/027378 and US published application 2009-0075309.

Generally, a luminogenic molecule is either a high energy molecular species (e.g., a stabilized dioxetane), or it is transformed into a high energy molecular species by a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction is usually oxidation by oxygen, superoxide, or peroxide. In each case, the energy within the luminogenic molecule is released by the chemical reaction. Although at least some of this energy is released as photons of light, the energy can also be released in other forms, such as heat. The luminogenic molecules that do not yield light disperse their energy through alternative modes, often termed “dark pathways”.

The term “luciferin derivative” as used herein refers to a type of luminogenic molecule or compound having a substantial structure of D-luciferin and is a luciferase substrate, e.g., aminoluciferin, or luciferase substrates disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/444,145, Branchini et al. (1989), e.g., naphthyl and quinolyl derivatives, Branchini et al. (2002), and Branchini (2000), the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

The term “inhibitor” refers to a molecule, compound, or substance that is capable of substantially reducing or stopping enzyme activity in a sample by any mechanism including, without limitation, direct or indirect inactivation, inhibition, denaturation, or sequestering.

As used herein the phrase “reducing substantially all ATP in the solution to a non ADP substrate” means that the amount of ATP in solution is reduced to an amount that allows for detecting the presence or absence of or determining the amount of the ATP produced from ADP in the solution. In some embodiments, the amount of ATP in the solution is reduced to less than 2%, for example 1%, 0.75%, 0.5%. 0.25%, 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.05%. 0.025%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.001%, or 0.0001% or less, of the original amount of ATP in the solution.

As used herein the phrase “removing substantially all PPi” means that the amount of PPi in solution is reduced to an amount so that the bioluminescent reaction can detect the presence or absence of or determine the amount of ATP produced from ADP in the solution. In some embodiments, the amount of PPi in the solution is reduced to less than 5%, for example 4%, 3%, 2,%, 1%, 0.75%, 0.5%. 0.25%, 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.05%, 0.025%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.001%, or 0.0001% or less, of the original amount of PPi in the solution. In some embodiments, the PPi will be removed using an enzyme such as a pyrophosphatase.

Exemplary Compositions and Methods of the Invention

The present invention provides compositions and methods of using these compositions to measure kinase or ATPase activity in a sample by detecting ADP formation by the kinase or ATPase after inhibiting the kinase or ATPase and converting any remaining ATP to cAMP. The ADP formed is then converted to ATP which is employed in a bioluminescent reaction, for instance, in conjunction with a luciferase-mediated reaction, optionally in a single step, that is then followed by detection of the resulting luminescence. In one embodiment, the luminescence resulting from the use of the compositions of the invention with a sample has an extended duration, i.e., diminished by less than about 50% per hour relative to the luminescence just after the last composition is combined with the sample.

A sample for use in the methods may comprise cells, a cell lysate, a subcellular fraction of a lysate, such as a membrane fraction or an acellular sample, and includes physiological samples. Cells within the scope of the invention include prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including plant cells and vertebrate cells, for instance, mammalian cells including, but not limited to, human, non-primate human, bovine, equine, ovine, swine, caprine, feline, canine, mink, rodent or avian cells. A sample comprising cells may be treated so as to permeabilize or lyse the cells in the sample. Methods for permeabilization, lysis or disruption of cells or subcellular fractions thereof are well known in the art. A wide variety of equipment is available for mechanical disruption including sonicators (ultrasonic generators), a dounce, mortar and pestle, or French presses. Cells can be disrupted (yielding cell lysates) by osmotic shock, by treatments such as a series of freeze-thaw cycles or a rapid alteration of the ionic strength of the environment, or by the use of agents that directly disrupt cell membranes such as enzymes like lysozyme or chemical agents such as detergents or surfactants, such as zwitterionic and nonionic detergents, or cationic detergents DTAB or CTAB, and antibacterials such as polymixin B and chlorhexidine.

The cells in a sample, e.g., a sample which includes eukaryotic cells such as yeast, avian, plant, insect or mammalian cells, including but not limited to human, simian, murine, canine, bovine, equine, feline, ovine, caprine or swine cells, prokaryotic cells, cells from two or more different organisms, or cell lysates, may not have been genetically modified via recombinant techniques (nonrecombinant cells), or may be recombinant cells which are transiently transfected with recombinant DNA and/or the genome of which is stably augmented with a recombinant DNA, or which genome has been modified to disrupt a gene, e.g., disrupt a promoter, intron or open reading frame, or replace one DNA fragment with another. The recombinant DNA or replacement DNA fragment may encode a kinase or ATPase to be detected by the methods of the invention, a moiety which alters the level or activity of the kinase or ATPase to be detected, and/or a gene product unrelated to the molecule or moiety that alters the level or activity of the kinase or ATPase.

In one embodiment, the present invention reduces to two steps the manipulations needed for measuring kinase or ATPase activity in a sample prior to luminescence measurement. In such a method, at least a portion of the products of a kinase or ATPase reaction is combined with the necessary components for adenylate cyclase and pyrophosphatase reactions where the ATP remaining after the kinase or ATPase reaction is converted to cAMP, and the pyrophosphate is degraded. At least a portion of products of the reaction mixture having cAMP is mixed with all of the necessary components for an ADP to ATP converting enzyme reaction and a bioluminescent reaction, e.g., components including an inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase, one or more ADP to ATP converting enzyme and optionally a substrate therefore, and the ATP-dependent bioluminescence generating enzyme (e.g., luciferase), and a corresponding luminogenic molecule.

In a three-step method, at least a portion of the products of a kinase or ATPase reaction which includes ADP and ATP is mixed with the necessary components for the adenylate cyclase and pyrophosphatase reactions, generating cAMP and phosphate. At least a portion of the products of that reaction is mixed with the necessary components for an ADP to ATP converting enzyme reaction. At least a portion of the products of the ADP to ATP converting enzyme reaction is mixed with the necessary components for an ATP-dependent bioluminescent enzyme-mediated reaction.

Exemplary kinases and ATPases for detection, or for use in screening for modulators of kinases or ATPases, are provided below.

TABLE 1 enzyme Substrate hexokinase ATP/hexoses glucokinase ATP/glucose fructokinase ATP/fructose galactokinase ATP/galactose mannokinase ATP/mannose glucosamine kinase ATP/2-amino-2-desoxy-D-glucose phosphoglucokinase ATP/lucose-1-P phosphofructokinase ATP/fructose-6-P gluconokinase ATP/D-gluconate Adenosine kinase ATP/adenosine NAD kinase ATP/NAD glycerol kinase ATP/glycerol glycerate kinase ATP/glycerate choline kinase ATP/choline pyruvate kinase ATP/pyruvate glucuronokinase ATP/glucuronate galacturonokinase ATP/galacturonate arabinokinase ATP/arabinose mannitol kinase ATP/mannitol inosine kinase ATP/inosine acetate kinase ATP/acetate carbamate kinase ATP/NH₃/CO₂ aspartate kinase ATP/aspartate carbamoyl phosphate synthase 2 ATP/NH₃/CO₂/H₂O formate kinase ATP/fromate carbamoyl phosphate synthase 2 ATP/glutamine/CO₂/H₂O guanidinoacetate kinase ATP/guanidine acetate creatine kinase ATP/creatine arginine kinase ATP/L-arginine ammonia kinase ATP/NH₃ polyphosphate kinase ATP (phosphate)n adenylate kinase ATP/AMP nucleoside monophosphate kinase ATP/nucleoside monophosphate nucleoside diphosphate kinase ATP/nucleoside diphosphate guanylate kinase ATP/GMP cytidylate kinase ATP/CMP succinyl-CoA-synthetase ATP/succinate/CoA glutaryl-CoA-synthetase ATP/glutarate/CoA Malyl-CoA-synthetase ATP/malate/CoA glutamine synthetase ATP/glutamate/NH₃ asparagine synthetase ATP/aspartate/NH₃ γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase ATP/glutamate/cysteine glutathione synthetase ATP/γ-glutamyl-cysteine/glycine D-alanylalanine synthetase ATP/2 D-alanine urea carboxylase ATP/urea/CO₂ pyruvate carboxylase ATP/pyruvate/H₂O/CO₂ 5′-nucleosidase ATP/ASN/NH₃/glutamate adenosine desaminase ATP/ASN/ISN/NH3/glutamate

In one embodiment, kinases to be detected, or used in assays to detect modulators thereof include, but are not limited to ABL1, ABL2/ARG, AKT1, AKT2, AKT3, ALK, ALK4, ALK5, TGFBR1, ARAF, ARK5, ASK1, Aurora A, Aurora B, Aurora C, AXL, BLK, BMX, BRAF, BRK, BRSK1, BRSK2, BTK, CAMK1a alpha, CAMK1d, CAMKIIa alpha, CAMKIIb beta, CAMKIId delta, CAMKIIg gamma, CAMK4, CAMKK2, CDK1/cyclinB, CDK2/cyclinA, CDK2/cyclinE, CDK3/cyclinE, CDK4-cyclinD1, CDK5/p25, CDK5/p35, CDK6/cyclinD1, CDK6/cyclinD3, CDK7/cyclin H/MNAT1, CDK9/CyclinK, CDK9/CyclinT1, CHK1, CHK2, CK1 (Yeast), CK1d (Rat), CK1a1 alpha, CK1d, CK1e, CK1g1/CSNK1G1, CK1g2, CK1g3/CSNK1G3, CK2 alpha, CK2a2, c-KIT, CLK1 CD, CLK3, c-MER, c-MET, COT1/MAP3K8, CSK, c-SRC, CTK/MATK/HYL, DAPK1, DAPK2, DCAMKL2, DDR2, DMPK, DNA-PK, DRAK1, DYRK1/DYRK1A, DYRK1B, DYRK2, DYRK3, DYRK4, EEF2K, EGFR, EPHA1, EPHA2, EPHA3, EPHA4, EPHA5, EPHA7, EPHA8, EPHB1, EPHB2, EPHB3, EPHB4, ErbB2/HER2, ErbB4/HER4, ERK1, FAK, FER, FES/FPS, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, FGR, FLT1/VEGFR-1, FLT3, FLT4, FMS, FRK_PTK5, FYN, GCK/MAP4K2, GRK2, GRK3, GRK4, GRK5, GRK6, GRK7, GSK3a, GSK3B, HCK, HGK/MAP4K4, HIPK1, HIPK2, HIPK3, HIPK4, IGF1R, IKK alpha, IKK beta, IR, IRAK1, IRAK4, IRR, ITK, JAK1, JAK3, JNK1 alpha 1, JNK2 alpha 2, JNK3, KDR/VEGFR-2, LCK, LKB1 (STK11), LIMK1, LOK/STK10, LYN, MAPKAPK2, MAPKAPK3, MAPKAPK5/PRAK, MARK1, MARK2, MARK3, MEK1, MELK, MINK, MLCK/MYLK, MLCK2/MYLK2, MLK1, MNK2, MRCKA/CDC42BPA, MRCKB/CDC42BPB, MSK1, MSK2, MSSK1/STK23, MST1, MST2, MST3/STK24, MST4, mTOR, MUSK, NEK1, NEK2, NEK3, NEK4, NEK6, NEK9, NEK11, NIK MAP3K14, NLK, P38 alpha, P38 beta, P38 delta, P38 gamma, P70s6k, PAK1, PAK2, PAK3, PAK4, PAK5, PAK6, PASK, PBK/TOPK, PDGFR alpha, PDGFR beta, PDPK1, PHK gamma2, P13Ka (p110a/p85a), P13Kb (p110b/p85a), (p110d/p85a), P13Kg (p120g), PIM1, PIM2, PKA, PKC alpha, PKC beta1, PKC beta2, PKC delta, PKC epsilon, PKC eta, PKC GAMMA, PKCiota, PKCmu, PKCtheta, PKCzeta(PKCz), PKD2, PKG1 alpha, PCG1 beta, PKG2/PRKG2, PKN2/PRK2, PLK1, PLK2, PLK3, PRKD3/PKCnu, PRKX, PYK2, RAF1, RET, RIPK2, ROCK1, ROCK2, RON, ROS, RSK1, RSK2, RSK3, RSK4/RPS6KA6, SGK1, SGK2, SGK3/SGKL, SIK2/SNF1LK2, STK22D, STK33, SRPK1, SRPK2, SYK, TAK1, TAOK2/TAO1, TAOK3/JIK, TBK1, TEC, TIE2, TRKA, TRKB, TRKC, TSSK2, TTK, TYK1/LTK, TYK2, TYRO3_SKY, VRK1, WEE1, WNK2, WNK3, YES, ZAK/MLTK, ZAP70, and ZIPK/DAPK3.

For instance, exemplary kinase/substrate combinations for use in the methods of the invention include JNK-1/c-jun, JNK-2/c-jun, MAP Kinase-1 (ERK-1)/myelin basic protein, MAP Kinase-2 (ERK-2)/myelin basic protein, PKA/Kemptide, MEK-1/inactive MAP Kinase-2 (ERK-2), JNK2α2/ATF-2, JNK2α2/c-jun, SAPK-3/myelin basic protein, SAPK-4/myelin basic protein and ref-1/inactive MEK-1.

Exemplary ATPases for detection or for use in screening methods include but are not limited to F-ATPases (F1F0-ATPases), V-ATPases (V1V0-ATPases), A-ATPases (A1A0-ATPases), P-ATPases (E1E2-ATPases), and E-ATPases. Exemplary human ATPases are Na+/K+ transporting enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP1A1, ATP1A2, ATP1A3, ATP1A4, ATP1B1, ATP1B2, ATP1B3, or ATP1B4; Ca++ transporting enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP2A1, ATP2A2, ATP2A3, ATP2B1, ATP2B2, ATP2B3, ATP2B4, or ATP2C1; Mg++ transporting enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP3; H+/K+ exchanging enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP4A, or ATP4B; H+ transporting, mitochondrial enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATP5C1, ATP5C2, ATP5D, ATP5E, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5H, ATP5I, ATP5J, ATP5J2, ATP5L, ATP5L2, ATP5O, or ATPATP5S; H+ transporting, lysosomal enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP6AP1, ATP6AP2, ATP6V1A, ATP6V1B1, ATP6V1B2, ATP6V1C1, ATP6V1C2, ATP6V1D, ATP6V1E1, ATP6V1E2, ATP6V1F, ATP6V1G1, ATP6V1G2, ATP6V1G3, ATP6V1H, ATP6V0A1, ATP6V0A2, ATP6V0A4, ATP6V0B, ATP6V0C, ATP6V0D1, ATP6V0D2, or ATP6V0E; Cu++ transporting enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP7A or ATP7B; Class 1, type 8 enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP8A1, ATP8B1, ATP8B2, ATP8B3, or ATP8B4; Class II, type 9 enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP9A or ATP9B; Class V, type 10 enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP10A, ATP10B, or ATP10D; Class IV, type 11 enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP11A, ATP11B, or ATP11C; H+/K+ transporting, nongastric enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP12A; and type 13 enzymes such as those encoded by: ATP13A1, ATP13A2, ATP13A3, ATP13A4, or ATP13A5.

For instance, any heat shock protein with ATPase activity, e.g., HSP70 or HSP90, may be detected or used in the methods of the invention. Inhibition of HSP90 ATPase activity results in degradation of the protein and its client kinases. Thus, developing inhibitors for HSP90 is an active area of research in the pharmaceutical industry.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method of detecting kinase activity comprises contacting a sample suspected of having a kinase with a kinase substrate, and ATP for a first predetermined time period to allow for sufficient opportunity for the kinase to interact with the kinase substrate. The method can be used with a wide variety of substrates such as amino acids, peptides, proteins (including fusion proteins and other kinases), sugars and lipids. The resulting kinase reaction mixture is then contacted with a second composition for a second predetermined time period. The second composition comprises an activated adenylate cyclase and a pyrophosphatase, and optionally a kinase inhibitor. The resulting second reaction mixture is then contacted with a third composition comprising an ADP to ATP converting enzyme, a bioluminescence generating enzyme, a luminogenic molecule, and optionally an adenylate cyclase inhibitor and/or a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme. Thereafter, the bioluminescence produced in the resulting third reaction mixture is detected. The bioluminescence is produced by the conversion of the luminogenic molecule into a luminescent compound by a bioluminescence generating enzyme such as luciferase. This method can be used to measure a distinct end-point of a kinase or ATPase reaction. In one embodiment, a reagent composition allows for the simultaneous inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity and generation of a luminescent signal that is directly proportional to the amount of ADP present.

The luminescence generated by a luciferase reaction is typically detected with a luminometer although other detection means may be used. The presence of light greater than background level indicates the presence of ATP in the sample. The background level of luminescence is typically measured in the same matrix, but in the absence of the sample. Suitable control reactions are readily designed by one of skill in the art. Luciferases may allow for multiple analyses of a sample over time or analysis of many samples over time. Optionally, the luciferases used in the compositions and methods of the invention have enhanced thermostability properties.

Quantifying the amount of emitted light also quantifies the amount of ATP and thus the amount of ADP produced by the kinase or ATPase in a sample. Thus, quantitation of ATP allows for quantitation of kinase or ATPase activity. Quantitative ATP values are realized, for example, when the quantity of light emitted from a test sample, in which ADP is converted to ATP via the methods of the invention which monitor ADP formation by converting it to ATP, is compared to the quantity of light emitted from a control sample or to a standard curve determined by using known amounts of ATP and the same luciferase and reaction conditions (i.e., temperature, pH, etc.). It is understood that quantification involves subtraction of background values. Qualitative ATP values are realized when the luminescence emitted from one sample is compared to the luminescence emitted from another sample without a need to know the absolute amount of ATP converted from ADP present in the samples, e.g., a comparison of samples in the presence or absence of a test agent. Many such experiments can readily be designed by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Any inhibitor of a kinase or ATPase, or a combination of inhibitors, may be employed in an amount sufficient to inhibit kinase or ATPase activity in the reaction mixture with the sample by at least about 5%, e.g., at least about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more or any increment therein, relative to a corresponding reaction without the inhibitor(s). ATPase inhibitors include but are not limited to local anesthetics, chondropsin, nicotinamide derivative, bafilomycin, indole-clase, archazolid, apicularen, macrocyclic carbon suboxide factors, substituted thieno[3,4-d]imidazoles, and geldanamycin and derivatives thereof. For instance, geldanamycin is an inhibitor of HSP90 although derivatives of geldanamycin such as a derivative of 17-allylamino-geldanamycin (17-AAG) have better solubility, oral delivery, potent activity and pharmacokinetic properties.

Exemplary kinase inhibitors include but are not limited to AMP, DAPP, dichloroacetic acid, staurosporine, UCN-01, and calphostin C, 4-anilino-3-quinolmecarbonitriles, AC220, heterocyclic ureas, NaF, detergents with charged groups such as cationic detergents (e.g., DTAB (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide), CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium) and BDDABr (benzyldimethyldodecylammonium bromide)), anionic detergents (e.g., SDS and deoxycholate), zwitterionic detergents (e.g., sulfobetaine 3-10), imidazole derivatives, AMG706, zactima, MP-412, BAY 43-9006, CEP-701 (lestaurtinib), XL647, XL999, MLN518 (formerly known as CT53518), PKC412, ST1571, AMN107, AEE 788, OSI-930, OSI-817, SU11248, and AG-013736. Other inhibitors useful to inhibit a kinase or ATPase include but are not limited to SU11248, sorafenib, zactima, lapatinib, imatinib, gefitinib, sunitinib, erlotinib, nilotinib, lapatinib, STI571, dasatinib, staurosporine, Ro31-8220, GW5074, H-89, wortmannin, quercetin, LY294002, glucose 6-phosphate (for hexokinase), or D-erythro-N,N-dimethylsphingosine (for sphingosine kinase).

Exemplary adenylate cyclases include but are not limited to those from Vibrio cholerae, e.g., cya, Bacillus anthracis, or Bortedella pertussis, e.g., pertussis toxin. The calmodulin-dependent fraction of adenylate cyclases can be inhibited by phenothiazines and butyrophenones (Levin & Weiss, 1976; Gietzen et al., 1980), naphthalene sulphonamides (Kobayashi et al., 1979), Vinca alkaloids (Watanabe et al., 1979; Gietzen & Bader, 1980), local anaesthetics (Volpi et al., 1981), calmidazolium (Gietzen et al., 1981), formerly referred to as R 24571, and compound 48/80 (Gietzen et al., 1983) (see also Wolff & Brostrom (1976) and Gietzen et al. (1982a)). Generally, activators of calmodulin-dependent enzymes (calmodulin, oleic acid or phosphatidyl-serine) can be considered as anionic amphiphiles, whereas calmodulin antagonists are cationic amphiphiles at physiological pH. Calmodulin-stimulation of an enzyme may occur by calmodulin forming a complex with the cationic amphiphilic antagonist, as a result of their complementary structural features, via ionic and hydrophobic interactions (Weiss et al., 1980), and in addition, several calmodulin antagonists exert their inhibitory effect via direct interaction with the calmodulin effector enzyme (Gietzen et al., 1982a,b). Moreover, almost all described inhibitors are more or less unspecific in that they also inhibit the basal activity of calmodulin-dependent enzymes.

Exemplary adenylate cyclase activators include but are not limited to calmodulin, adenosine, or carbacyclin.

Exemplary adenylate cyclase inhibitors include but are not limited to calmodulin antagonists such as calmidazolium, N⁶-cyclo hexyl adenosine, adenosine, 2′,5′dideoxyadenosine, E₆ berbamine, trifluoroperazine, compound 48/80, MDL-12, 330A, SQ 22536, 9-cyclopentyladenine, pyrocatechol, 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine 3′-monophosphate, 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine 3′-diphosphate, 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine 3′-triphosphate, 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine, or 2′/3′-O—(N-methylanthraniloyl)guanosine-5′-(γ-thio)triphosphate triethylammonium salt.

The compositions of the invention that contain one or more enzymes may also comprise an enzyme stabilizing agent. The enzyme stabilizing agent can be any compound that stabilizes the enzyme, e.g., from degradation. Suitable enzyme stabilizing agents include proteins (such as bovine serum albumin, gelatin or Prionex®) or detergents (such as non-ionic detergents, e.g., THESIT).

Further, the present invention is useful for determining the effect of small molecules (including organic and inorganic molecules and synthetic and naturally occurring molecules) on kinase or ATPase activity, which in turn allows the assessment of whether the small molecule may function as a pharmaceutical drug. The methods may include controls in which samples are contacted with control substances whose effects on kinase or ATPase activity are known. Also, controls may include samples in which the adenylate cyclase, ADP to ATP converting enzyme or ATP-dependent bioluminescent enzyme and the test agent(s) are present together to assure that the agent(s) do not directly affect adenylate cyclase, ADP to ATP converting enzyme and ATP-dependent bioluminescent enzyme activity.

Those skilled in the art recognize that the methods compositions and kits described herein can be used to measure the activity of enzymes that convert ATP to ADP, such as kinases or ATP hydrolases. Additionally, the described methods can be used to determine how much the enzyme is inhibited by a known or putative inhibitor, particularly when the results of such a reaction are compared against one or more standards or control reactions. Accordingly, the present methods, compositions and kits can be used to identify inhibitors of enzymes.

Thus, the invention is directed to methods that determine the effect of one or more test agents on a first sample containing kinase or ATPase enzyme by contacting the first sample with a concentration of one or more test agents and then at a later time contacting the first sample with a reagent composition of the invention, detecting and comparing the amount of luminescence in the first sample to an amount of luminescence in a second sample containing kinase or ATPase. The second sample may be contacted with a concentration of one or more test agents that is less than the concentration contacting the first sample or may or may not contain the one or more test agents. A lesser amount of luminescence detected from the first sample compared to the second sample may indicate that the one or more test agents comprise an inhibitory agent. In this way, inhibitory reagents may be discovered. Similarly, the invention is useful for discovering kinase or ATPase activity enhancing reagents. Using the above example, a lesser amount of luminescence detected from the second sample compared to the first sample may indicate that the one or more test agents comprise a kinase or ATPase enhancement agent. The invention is useful for comparing the effects of different test agents at the same concentration on kinase or ATPase activity. The invention is also useful for comparing the effect of one or more test agents on different types of kinase or ATPase. One of skill in the art may develop many other such assays for which the invention is useful.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for screening one or more test agents for their effect on kinase or ATPase activity. The method includes providing one or more test agents for screening and incubating a first reaction mixture comprising one or more kinases or ATPases, ATP, and the one or more test agents for a first predetermined time period under conditions effective to allow for conversion of ATP to ADP by the one or more kinases or ATPases. The first reaction mixture is then contacted with a first reagent having an amount of an isolated active adenylate cyclase and a pyrophosphatase, and optionally an amount of one or more inhibitors of the kinases or ATPases, to form a second reaction mixture which is incubated for a second predetermined time period under conditions effective to allow for conversion of ATP to cAMP. The second reaction mixture is contacted with a second reagent to yield a third reaction mixture, wherein the second reagent includes one or more inhibitors of the adenylate cyclase, one or more ADP to ATP converting enzymes, a luminogenic molecule and a bioluminescence generating enzyme for a third predetermined time period under conditions effective to allow for a bioluminescent reaction. Then, the effect of the one or more test agents on kinase or ATPase activity is determined by measuring and comparing luminescence of the third reaction mixture relative to a control mixture without the test agent(s). In one embodiment, the effect of the one more tests agents on kinase activity is determined, e.g., protein kinase activity, lipid kinase activity, polynucleotide kinase activity, or sugar kinase activity. In one embodiment, the luminogenic molecule comprises D-luciferin or a luciferin derivative, and the bioluminescent enzyme comprises a luciferase.

In one embodiment, the reaction mixture for a kinase or ATPase reaction under optimal enzyme reaction conditions includes a test agent, e.g., one that may inhibit the kinase or ATPase. A buffer containing an active adenylate cyclase, e.g., from B. pertussis, is added to the reaction mixture to convert the remaining ATP into cAMP and pyrophosphate. Optionally, the buffer may contain an inhibitor of the kinase or ATPase to terminate the kinase or ATPase reaction. Also optionally, the buffer may contain a pyrophosphatase. In one embodiment, pyrophosphatase is present in the solution for the reaction that converts ATP to cAMP, and the bioluminescence generating enzyme is luciferase. In such a reaction, the light generated from the luciferase reaction is unaffected since pyrophosphate is a known inhibitor of luciferase. ADP formed in the kinase or ATPase reactions is converted to ATP using an ADP to ATP converting enzyme such as adenylate kinase, creatine kinase, pyruvate kinase, and the like. To prevent the adenylate cyclase from using the newly formed ATP, the ADP to ATP converting reaction is performed in the presence of an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, e.g., a calmodulin antagonist. Optionally, the ADP to ATP converting reaction may contain a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, such as a substrate for adenylate kinase, creatine kinase or pyruvate kinase. The ATP formed is measured by the addition of reagents for an ATP dependent bioluminescent enzyme mediated reaction (e.g., a luciferase/luciferin reaction). The RLU generated is proportional to the ADP concentration produced in the kinase or ATPase reaction, and thereby is a measure of those enzyme activities.

One composition of the present invention comprises one or more adenylate cyclase inhibitors, e.g., one or more detergents such as those disclosed in U.S. publication number 2004/0101922, and one or more ADP to ATP converting enzymes, which optionally includes a substrate(s) for the ADP to ATP converting enzymes and also optionally a non-endogenous ATP-dependent bioluminescence generating enzyme and a substrate therefore. The composition is capable of maintaining at least about 30% enzymatic activity for at least about one hour, e.g., for at least about 2 hours up to about 4 hours. In one embodiment, the non-endogenous ATP-dependent enzymes are luciferases.

Luciferase enzymes produce catalytic products that provide a detectable light product, sensitivity, and allow easy measurement of ATP. However, any bioluminescence generating-enzyme that is ATP-dependent may be used in the methods and compositions of the present invention.

At their most basic level, luciferases are defined by their ability to produce luminescence. More specifically, a luciferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of a substrate, luciferin, to produce oxiluciferin and photons.

To date, five classes of luciferases have been identified. Of these, beetle luciferases, such as that of the common firefly (family Lampyridae), form a distinct class with unique evolutionary origins. Beetle luciferases are often referred to as firefly luciferases in the literature; however, firefly luciferases are actually a subgroup of the beetle luciferase class. Beetle luciferases may be purified from the lanterns of the beetles themselves or from protein expression systems well known in the art.

Beetle luciferases, particularly firefly luciferase from the North American firefly Photinus pyralis, are well known in the art. The P. pyralis luciferase (LucPpy) consists of approximately 550 amino acids of M_(r) 61 kDa as calculated by the protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the gene. However, other firefly luciferases are known, such as Photuris pennsylvanica firely luciferase (LucPpe2; 545 amino acid residues; GenBank 2190534). Mutant luciferases derived from LucPpe2 (e.g., LucPpe2m78 (also known as 78-0B10); LucPpe2m90 (also known as 90-1B5); LucPpe2m133 (also known as 133-1B2); LucPpe2m146 (also known as 146-1H2) may be employed, however, any luciferase that meets the limitations set forth herein may be used in the composition, method and kits of the invention. The method of making mutant luciferases from LucPpe is disclosed in PCT/US99/30925.

Isolated and/or purified luciferases are typically used in the present invention. Luciferases that may be used in the methods, compositions and kits described herein include those found in WO 1999/14336, WO 2001/20002, WO 2004/027378, EP 1 124 944, EP 1 224 294, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,837,465, 6,171,808, 6,132,983, and 6,265,177.

Luciferases can be isolated from biological specimens that produce luciferase or from a cell that expresses an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a desired luciferase. Such techniques are well known to those of skill in the art (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,677).

The naturally-occurring substrate for beetle luciferases is firefly luciferin, a polytherocyclic organic acid, D-(−)-2-(6′-hydroxy-2′-benzoth-iazolyl)-Δ²-thiazolin-4-carboxylic acid (luciferin). Luciferin may be isolated from nature (e.g., from fireflies) or synthesized. Synthetic luciferin can have the same structure as the naturally occurring luciferin or can be derivatized, so long as it functions analogously. Examples of derivatives of luciferin include D-luciferin methyl ester and other esters of luciferase that are hydrolyzed or acted upon by esterases in a sample to yield luciferin, and naphthyl- and quinolyl-luciferin (Branchini et al., 1989). There are multiple commercial sources for luciferin (e.g., Promega Corp. Madison, Wis.; Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.).

The beetle luciferase-catalyzed reaction that yields luminescence (the luciferase-luciferin reaction) involves firefly luciferin, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), magnesium, and molecular oxygen. In the initial reaction, the firefly luciferin and ATP react to form luciferyl adenylate with the elimination of inorganic pyrophosphate. The luciferyl adenylate remains tightly bound to the catalytic site of luciferase. When this form of the enzyme is exposed to molecular oxygen, the enzyme-bound luciferyl adenylate is oxidized to yield oxyluciferin in an electronically excited state. The excited oxidized luciferin emits light on returning to the ground state:

It is contemplated that the ATP function of the reaction can be performed by an ATP analogue (e.g., dATP). It is also contemplated that other ions can serve as substitutes for magnesium ions (e.g., Mn²⁺ or Ca²⁺). Additionally, oxygen is a reactant of the reaction. Therefore, the reaction should not be conducted under anaerobic conditions. However, it is not generally necessary in practicing the invention to provide oxygen over and above that present in the air. Reactions can take place in closed vessels, provided there is sufficient oxygen in the reaction solution.

Most luciferase-luciferin reactions generate a flash of light that is short lived. However, some of the luciferases for use with the invention, e.g., mutants of LucPpe2 such as LucPpe2m146 and LucPpe2m90 luciferases, under the conditions of the invention generate a “glow-type” luminescent signal with less than 50% loss of luminescence per hour after the reagent composition is combined with the sample.

Any luciferase that retains the ability to generate luminescence when used in a reagent composition of the present invention can be used in the present invention.

As is understood by those skilled in the art, all enzyme reactions described herein, including in the claims, expressly or inherently include all enzymes, substrates and conditions necessary for the enzymatic reaction to occur, unless specifically stated otherwise.

Variant Enzymes

A full length luciferase, phosphotransferase such as a kinase or ATP hydrolase such as an ATPase, adenylate cyclase or ADP to ATP converting enzyme variant will have at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity, at least about 81% amino acid sequence identity, such as at least about 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% amino acid sequence identity with a corresponding full-length native luciferase, phosphotransferase or ATP hydrolase, adenylate cyclase, e.g., one having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to Accession No. Y00545 or M24074, or ADP to ATP converting enzyme sequence and retain the ability to generate luminescence, transfer phosphate groups, form cAMP from ATP or form ATP from ADP, respectively. Ordinarily, variant fragments are at least about 50 amino acids in length, often at least about 60 amino acids in length, more often at least about 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500 or 550 amino acids in length, or more and retain the ability to generate luminescence, transfer phosphate groups, form cAMP from ATP or form ATP from ADP. A full length luciferase, phosphotransferase ATP hydrolase, adenylate cyclase or ADP to ATP converting enzyme, fragment thereof, or variant thereof may be fused to heterologous amino acid sequences and still be functional in the invention.

For example, full length beetle luciferase, kinase, ATPase, adenylate cyclase or ADP to ATP converting enzyme, fragments thereof or variants thereof used in the compositions and methods of the present invention may be purified from a native source or prepared by a number of techniques, including (1) chemical synthesis, (2) enzymatic (protease) digestion of luciferase, and (3) recombinant DNA methods. Chemical synthesis methods are well known in the art, as are methods that employ proteases to cleave specific sites. To produce the enzymes, variant enzymes or fragments thereof, DNA encoding the enzymes, variants and fragments can be prepared and then expressed in a host organism, such as E. coli. Methods such as endonuclease digestion or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allow one of skill in the art to generate an unlimited supply of well-defined fragments. The activity of a variant or fragment may vary from that of the native enzyme.

Any type of amino acid substitution, insertion or deletion, or combination thereof may be used to generate a variant luciferase, adenylate cyclase, kinase, ATPase or ADP to ATP converting enzyme. However, a luciferase, adenylate cyclase, kinase, ATPase, or ADP converting enzyme with a conservative amino acid substitution is more likely to retain activity. Useful conservative substitutions are shown in Table A “Exemplary substitutions.” Conservative substitutions whereby an amino acid of one class is replaced with another amino acid of the same type fall within the scope of the invention if the substitution does not impair enzyme activity.

TABLE A Preferred Original residue Exemplary substitutions substitutions Ala (A) Val, Leu, Ile Val Arg (R) Lys, Gln, Asn Lys Asn (N) Gln, His, Lys, Arg Gln Asp (D) Glu Glu Cys (C) Ser Ser Gln (Q) Asn Asn Glu (E) Asp Asp Gly (G) Pro, Ala Ala His (H) Asn, Gln, Lys, Arg Arg Ile (I) Leu, Val, Met, Ala, Phe, Leu Norleucine Leu (L) Norleucine, Ile, Val, Met, Ile Ala, Phe Lys (K) Arg, Gln, Asn Arg Met (M) Leu, Phe, Ile Leu Phe (F) Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, Tyr Leu Pro (P) Ala Ala Ser (S) Thr Thr Thr (T) Ser Ser Trp (W) Tyr, Phe Tyr Tyr (Y) Trp, Phe, Thr, Ser Phe Val (V) Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Ala, Leu Norleucine

Non-conservative substitutions that effect (1) the structure of the polypeptide backbone, such as a β-sheet or a-helical conformation, (2) the charge or (3) hydrophobicity, or (4) the bulk of the side chain of the target site might modify luciferase function. Residues are divided into groups based on common side-chain properties as denoted in Table B. Non-conservative substitutions entail exchanging a member of one of these classes for another class.

TABLE B Amino acid classes Class Amino acids Hydrophobic Norleucine, Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile neutral hydrophilic Cys, Ser, Thr Acidic Asp, Glu Basic Asn, Gln, His, Lys, Arg Disrupt chain conformation Gly, Pro Aromatic Trp, Tyr, Phe

Variant luciferase, adenylate cyclase, kinase, ATPase, or ADP converting enzyme genes or gene fragments can be made using methods known in the art such as oligonucleotide-mediated (site-directed) mutagenesis, alanine scanning, and PCR mutagenesis. Site-directed mutagenesis) cassette mutagenesis, restriction selection mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis or other known techniques can be performed on the cloned DNA to produce the variant DNA.

Kits

When the invention is supplied as a kit, the different components of the composition may be packaged in separate containers and admixed prior to use, as described herein. Such separate packaging of the components permits long-term storage without loss of enzyme activity. When various parts of the kit are admixed, they form a “reagent composition”, which, in one embodiment, has enhanced stability (i.e., a reagent composition is capable of maintaining at least about 30%, more preferably at least about 60% activity for at least one hour, even more preferably at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or greater activity for at least one hour, such as at least two hours and or for at least four hours relative to the reagent composition's activity when it is first created, i.e., within the first 1 to 5 minutes. Instructional materials may also be enclosed in the kit, as well as materials that may act as standards or controls, depending on the purpose of the kit.

Reagent Compositions

In one embodiment, the following components of a reagent composition of the invention may be supplied as separate parts that are admixed shortly before use: 1) a luciferase, 2) one or more ADP to ATP converting enzymes, 3) optionally an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, 4) optionally a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, and 5) a substrate for luciferase. In one embodiment, the following components of a reagent composition may be supplied as separate parts that are admixed shortly before use: 1) one or more ADP to ATP converting enzymes, 2) an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, and 3) optionally a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme. In one embodiment, the following components of a reagent composition may be supplied as separate parts that are admixed shortly before use: 1) an adenylate cyclase, 2) a pyrophosphatase, 3) optionally one or more kinase or ATPase inhibitors, and 4) optionally an activator of the adenylate cyclase. The luciferase component may further comprise luciferin and in one embodiment, is lyophilized. The luciferase component optionally comprises excipients for lyophilization, protein (luciferase) stabilizer, magnesium (or alternative cation), and a magnesium chelator (or alternative cation chelator). The composition may further comprise a buffer, divalent cation metal chelators, magnesium (or alternative cation), a defoaming agent, and an enzyme stabilizer (e.g., THESIT). Suitable kit components, compositions and buffers that may be used in the described methods can also be obtained commercially. For example, Kinase-Glo®, Kinase-Glo® Plus, or Kinase-Glo® Max buffers and/or Kinase-Glo®, Kinase-Glo® Plus, or Kinase-Glo® Max substrates available from Promega® in Kinase-Glo®, Kinase-Glo® Plus, or Kinase-Glo® Max Luminesecent Kinase Assay kits may be used as described herein. The kit components, compositions and buffers may also be modified by the addition of suitable components, including enzymes, such as pyruvate kinase, components, such as phosphoenol pyruvate, salts, chelators, etc. The different components may comprise subsets of these parts and may be combined in any way that either facilitates the application of the invention or prolongs storage life.

Other Kit Components

Kits may also include reagents in separate containers that facilitate the execution of a specific test, such as cell viability, cytotoxicity, or cell proliferation. For example, ATP or ADP may be supplied so that standard curves may be determined or to be used as internal controls. Substances that are known to be kinase or ATPase inhibitors or activators may be included for use as a positive control in detection of kinase or ATPase activity or for determining the effects of test agents on kinase or ATPase activity. The kit may supply multiwell plates and/or one or more kinases or ATPases, adenylate cyclases, or ADP to ATP converting enzymes. The kit may optionally include substrates for the kinase or ATPase, buffer, and an activator or inhibitor of the adenylate cyclase.

Containers or Vessels

The reagents included in the kits can be supplied in containers of any sort such that the life of the different components are preserved, and are not adsorbed or altered by the materials of the container. For example, sealed glass ampules may contain lyophilized luciferase or buffer that has been packaged under a neutral, non-reacting gas, such as nitrogen. Ampules may consist of any suitable material, such as glass, organic polymers, such as polycarbonate, polystyrene, etc., ceramic, metal or any other material typically employed to hold reagents. Other examples of suitable containers include simple bottles that may be fabricated from similar substances as ampules, and envelopes, that may consist of foil-lined interiors, such as aluminum or an alloy. Other containers include test tubes, vials, flasks, bottles, syringes, or the like. Containers may have a sterile access port such as a bottle having a stopper that can be pierced by a hypodermic injection needle. Other containers may have two compartments that are separated by a readily removable membrane that upon removal permits the components to mix. Removable membranes may be glass, plastic, rubber, etc.

Instructional Materials

Kits may also be supplied with instructional materials. Instructions may be printed on paper or other substrate and/or may be supplied as an electronic-readable medium such as a floppy disc, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip disc, videotape, audio tape, etc. Detailed instructions may not be physically associated with the kit; instead, a user may be directed to an internet web site specified by the manufacturer or distributor of the kit, or supplied as electronic mail. In one embodiment, the instructions instruct the user to combine the luciferase with the ADP converting enzyme and inhibitor of adenylate cyclase before adding the resulting reagent composition to a sample.

Uses for ATP-Dependent Luciferase-Luciferin Reactions

Because the beetle luciferase-luciferin reaction is ATP-dependent, luciferase can be used to assay for ATP. The reaction is remarkably sensitive, allowing ATP to be detected in a sample containing as little as 10⁻¹⁶ moles ATP or less.

The methods, compositions and kits of the invention provide for the simple qualitative or quantitative detection of ADP generated from a kinase or ATPase reaction via subsequent ATP formation. In one embodiment, a simple qualitative experiment in which luminescence is generated in a sample indicates the presence of a kinase or ATPase. Luminescence is generated using a reagent composition comprising luciferase such as a mutant of LucPpe2. In addition, the reagent composition may further comprise one or more of the following components: luciferin, which may be reconstituted from a lyophilized preparation (alternatively, an appropriate luciferin-analogue substrate), inhibitor(s) of ADP to ATP converting enzymes, divalent cation (e.g. magnesium), enzyme stabilizing agents, and buffer.

The compositions, methods and kits of the invention permit a user to quantify the amount of ADP produced by a kinase or ATPase, or the presence of a kinase or ATPase, in a sample by converting the ADP to ATP and quantifying the amount of luminescence produced after adding an ATP-dependent bioluminescent enzyme. The invention is applied to a sample of interest, and also to samples containing known amounts of ADP, kinase or ATPase (controls). The signal generated from applying the invention to a sample of unknown ADP, kinase or ATPase concentration is correlated to signals generated either by internal controls (the addition of a known amount of ADP, kinase or ATPase to a sample and measuring the subsequent luminescence) or external standard curves, generated by measuring the luminescence of several samples of known ADP, kinase or ATPase concentrations and plotting them graphically. Such methods are known to skilled artisans.

The invention will be further described by the following nonlimiting example.

EXAMPLE

Materials

Pyruvate kinase from rabbit muscle (Sigma Catalog number P9136), myokinase from chicken muscle (Sigma Catalog number M5520), myokinase from rabbit muscle (Sigma Catalog number M3003), creatine phosphokinase from bovine heart (Sigma Catalog number C7886), creatine phosphokinase from rabbit brain (Sigma Catalog number C6638), and creatine phosphokinase from rabbit muscle (Sigma Catalog number C3755) were obtained from Sigma.

Methods

Adenylate Cyclase Assay and Inhibition.

Activity of various adenylyl cyclases (ACs) was measured at 30° C. for 30 minutes in the presence of 60 mM Tris pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl₂, 40 nM calmodulin and variable ATP concentrations. Except for those experiments related to AC titration, 100 ng of the AC was used. When used, the calmodulin antagonists were prepared according to the manufacturer's recommendation and were added directly to the AC reaction when direct inhibition was assessed or to the reaction converting ADP to ATP to assess AC inhibition during ATP formation.

Kinase and ATPase Reactions.

Unless otherwise indicated, kinase or ATPase reactions were performed in 40 μL Buffer A (40 mM Tris pH 7.5, 20 mM MgCl₂ and 0.1 mg/mL BSA) in the presence of the kinase or ATPase, ATP, and substrate for the kinase or ATPase. Substrate concentrations and reaction times used are as indicated. Tyrosine kinase reactions were performed in Buffer A supplemented with 2 mM DTT, 2 mM MnCl₂ and 100 μM sodium ortho-vanadate. Sphingosine kinase reactions were performed in Buffer A supplemented with 0.5 mM DTT. Hsp70 ATPase reaction was performed in Buffer A supplemented with 7.5 mM KCl and 100 μM DTT. Na+/K+ ATPase reaction was performed in a buffer containing 20 mM Tris pH 7.8, 0.56 mM EDTA, 5 mM MgCl₂, 3 mM KCl, and 133 mM NaCl. PgpATPase reaction was performed in a Pgp buffer (Promega Corp). SV40 Large T antigen helicase reaction was performed in a buffer containing 20 mM Tris pH 7.8, 10 mM MgCl₂, 50 mM NaCl, and 1 mM DTT. ATP dependent DNase reaction was performed in a buffer containing 33 mM Tris-acetate (pH 7.8), 66 mM potassium acetate, 10 mM magnesium acetate, and 0.5 mM DTT.

ADP Detection Assay.

The assay is performed in multi well plates generally in two steps:

1) ATP Depletion:

40 μL of Reagent 1 (120 mM Tris pH 7.5, 40 nM calmodulin, 20 U/mL pyrophosphatase, 100 ng adenylate cyclase and optionally 300-500 nM staurosporine) was added to the kinase reaction and incubated for 30 minutes. When PI3 lipid kinase, ATPase, sphingosine kinase or hexokinase activities were assayed, staurosporine in Reagent 1 was optionally replaced by 500 nM wortmanin, 75 μM quercetin, 150 μM D-erythro-N,N-dimethylsphingosine or 2 mM glucose-6-phosphate, respectively, to stop the reactions. The ATP depletion assay was also performed using Bordetella pertussis full length AC toxin, AC fragment only, or Bacillus anthracis Edema factor in the assay (FIGS. 3 and 4).

2) ADP to ATP Conversion and Detection:

80 μL of Reagent 2 (800 μM phosphoenolpyruvate and 800 mU pyruvate kinase in 80 μL Kinase-Glo® Max (Promega Corp.)) were added simultaneously to the kinase or ATPase reaction and incubated for 30-60 minutes at room temperature. The data were collected using a plate reading luminometer (GloMax® 96 Microplate Luminometer).

When the assay was performed in 3 steps, the following modification was introduced. After the ATP depletion step, 20 μL of pyruvate kinase (PK) reagent (40 mM Tris pH 7.0, 335 mM KCl, 500 μM calmidazolium, 500 μM phosphoenolpyruvate, 15 mM EDTA, 0.3 mg/mL BSA and 300-600 mU pyruvate kinase) was added, the reaction incubated for 5-10 minutes, and 100 μL Kinase-Glo® Max (Promega Corp.) was added to detect the ATP produced. After a 10 minute incubation, the plate was read on a plate reading luminometer (GloMax 96 Microplate Luminometer; Promega Corp.).

In addition to using pyruvate kinase to convert ADP to ATP, adenylate kinase and phosphocreatine kinase were also used to carry out this conversion (FIGS. 29 and 30). For these reactions, either a 125 mU adenylate kinase or 500 mU creatine phosphokinase/250 μM phosphocreatine was used in Buffer B (50 mM Tris pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl₂, and 500 μM calmidazolium) and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature with the ADP depletion mixture.

Free ATP Depletion Assay.

Two fold serial ATP dilutions were made in 25 μL LB media alone or LB media containing E. coli bacteria. Twenty-five micro-liters of ATP depletion Buffer supplemented or not with 100 ng AC, was added to the ATP-Bacteria mixture and incubated for 40 minutes. To detect the remaining cellular or free ATP, 50 μL of BacTiter-Glo (Promega) were added to the mixture and luminescence was recorded according to the manufacturer's procedure. The ATP depletion Buffer contained 80 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 40 nM calmodulin, 10 mM MgCl₂, 2 U/mL pyrophosphatase and 0.1 mg/mL BSA.

An exemplary assay was conducted as follows. After providing or conducting a kinase or ATPase reaction which includes ATP, the remaining ATP is eliminated by adding a first reagent (e.g., Reagent 1) that includes an active adenylate cyclase enzyme (AC), one or more a kinase or ATPase inhibitors (e.g., staurosporine) to stop the kinase or ATPase reaction, a buffer and optionally pyrophosphatase (to eliminate any produced pyrophosphate if pyrophosphate is not compatible with subsequent reactions, e.g., pyrophosphate inhibits a luciferase-based reaction) and incubating the reaction, e.g., for about 30 minutes. Optionally, the first reagent may also include an AC that is not activated. Optionally, an activator of the AC, for instance, calmodulin may be added to or along with the first reagent.

Next, the ADP produced by the kinase or ATPase reaction is converted to ATP by adding, a second reagent (e.g., Reagent 2, which includes a buffer, an inhibitor of AC (such as calmidazolium or another calmodulin antagonist), and one or more ADP to ATP converting enzymes and incubating the reaction. Optionally, the second reagent may include a substrate for the ADP to ATP converting enzyme, e.g., phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) or phosphocreatine (PC). In one embodiment, the ADP to ATP converting enzyme includes pyruvate kinase or creatine phosphokinase which employ PEP or PC, respectively. Alternatively, adenylate kinase can be used to convert ADP to ATP without the need for a phosphate donor.

To measure the newly formed ATP, a third reagent including components for a luciferase/luciferin reaction, was added (e.g., Reagent 3). The relative luminescence units (RLU) produced by this reaction are proportional to the kinase or ATPase activity being measured. Combining the second and third reagent can result in an assay that is highly compatible with high-throughput screening procedures.

Results

FIG. 2 illustrates that AC from B. pertussis can deplete ATP from a kinase or ATPase reaction to a background level using a composition of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates that ATP depletion may be performed with different sources of adenylate cyclase such as B. pertussis and B. anthracis.

FIG. 4 illustrates that ATP depletion may be performed with full-length (170 kD) or with only the catalytic domain (43 kD) of B. pertussis adenylate cyclase.

FIG. 5 illustrates that different calmodulin antagonists (e.g., calmidazolium, B6 barbamine, trifluoroperazine and compound 48/80) may be used as inhibitors of adenylate cyclase when converting ADP to ATP.

FIG. 6 illustrates that AC is inhibited by the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium. Pyruvate kinase was able to convert ADP to ATP without any significant interference from calmidazolium, even at high calmidozolium concentrations.

FIG. 7 shows the sensitivity and linearity of the assay to detect different concentrations of ADP in the presence of ATP.

FIG. 8 shows that meaningful ADP detection using luminescence can be performed when ATP depletion using AC is performed after the kinase reaction prior to ADP conversion and detection.

FIG. 9 shows that an inhibitor of kinase or ATPase can be used optionally to stop the reaction during ATP depletion with no effect on subsequent reactions.

FIGS. 9-22 demonstrate that the activity of a variety of kinase and ATPase enzymes can be detected using the compositions and methods of the present invention.

FIGS. 10-12 demonstrate that the present invention can be used to detect the activity of a protein kinase, PKA. The K_(M) for ATP in the PKA kinase reaction resulted in a value similar to those previously reported.

FIG. 13 demonstrates that the present invention can be used to determine the IC₅₀ values of various kinase inhibitors on the protein kinase, PKA. Moreover, in FIG. 13, the use of the staurosporine in the composition of the present invention to inhibit the kinase reaction did not interfere significantly with the pyruvate kinase reaction. Furthermore, in FIG. 13, the tested kinase inhibitors did not interfere with the adenylate cyclase, creatine phosphokinase, or pyruvate kinase reactions.

FIGS. 14-18 demonstrate that the present invention may be used to detect activity from lipid kinases (PI3 kinase and Sphingosine kinase).

FIGS. 19-20 demonstrate that the present invention may be used to detect activity from a receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR).

FIG. 21 illustrates the use of the present invention to detect activity from MAP kinase using a protein as a substrate (MBP).

FIG. 22 illustrates the use of the present invention to detect activity from a sugar kinase (hexokinase).

FIGS. 23-28 illustrate the use of the present invention to detect activity of enzymes containing an ATPase domain.

FIG. 23 illustrates the use of the present invention to detect ATPase activities of a Heat Shock Protein Hsp70.

FIG. 24 shows that the present invention is used to detect levels of linear DNA by monitoring the activity of an ATP dependent DNase. FIG. 24 shows that the present invention can be used for plasmid DNA-based vaccines where the monitoring of linear DNA contamination of plasmid preparations is needed.

FIGS. 25-26 illustrates the use of the present invention to detect activities of the Na+/K+ ATPase.

FIG. 27 shows that the present invention can be used to detect activity of a P-glycoprotein whose drug efflux pump activity is ATP dependent. This is important with regard to drug efficacy and multi-drug resistance during disease treatment.

FIG. 28 illustrates the use of the present invention to detect the intrinsic ATPase activity of a Helicase (SV40 Large T antigen). FIG. 28 shows that the present invention can be used in diagnostics of viral infections by monitoring viral helicase activities.

FIG. 29 illustrates that the present invention may be performed in two steps (ATP depletion reaction and ADP to ATP conversion/bioluminescent enzyme reaction) or three steps (ATP depletion reaction, ADP to ATP conversion reaction and bioluminescent enzyme reaction), and achieve similar results.

FIGS. 30 and 31 illustrate that various ADP to ATP converting enzymes, creatine phosphokinase and adenylate kinase, respectively, can convert ADP to ATP and therefore may be used in the present invention. It further illustrates that any enzyme known in the art for converting ADP to ATP may be used in the present invention.

The activity of PKA kinase (a high ATP consuming enzyme) and EGFR kinase (a low ATP consuming) was detected using pyruvate kinase, adenylate kinase and creatine phosphokinase. This data illustrates that the present invention can be used to detect high or low levels of ADP.

FIG. 32 shows that adenylate cyclase can be used in the decontamination of free ATP from a cell containing media prior to the detection of intracellular levels of ATP, e.g., after lysis and employing a luciferase-mediated reaction.

Any embodiment described herein can be combined with any other suitable embodiment described herein to provide additional embodiments.

As used herein, reference to “a” or “an” means “one or more.” Throughout, the plural and singular should be treated as interchangeable, other than the indication of number.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof as well as the individual values making up the range, particularly integer values. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art, all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “more than,” “or more” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. In the same manner, all ratios disclosed herein also include all subratios falling within the broader ratio.

One skilled in the art will also readily recognize that where members are grouped together in a common manner, such as in a Markush group, the present invention encompasses not only the entire group listed as a whole, but each member of the group individually and all possible subgroups of the main group. Additionally, for all purposes, the present invention encompasses not only the main group, but also the main group absent one or more of the group members. The present invention also envisages the explicit exclusion of one or more of any of the group members in the claimed invention.

As will be understood by the skilled artisan, all numbers, including those expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, reaction conditions, and so forth, are approximations and understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” These values can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the present teachings of the present invention. It is also understood that such values inherently contain variability necessarily resulting from the standard deviations found in their respective testing measurements.

Reference to a “step” or an indication by a letter or number in the application is used for convenience purposes only and does not categorize, define or limit the invention as set forth herein. All references disclosed herein are specifically incorporated by reference in their entirety.

REFERENCES

-   Branchini et al. (Photchem. Photobiol., 49:689 (1989). -   Branchini et al. (J. Am. Chem Soc., 124:2112 (2002). -   Branchini (Meth. Enzymol., 305:188 (2000). -   Gietzen et al. IRCS Med. Sci., 8:396 (1980). -   Gietzen et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 94:674 (1980). -   Gietzen et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 101:418 (1981). -   Gietzen et al., Biochem. J., 207:541 (1982a). -   Gietzen et al., Mol. Pharmacol., 22:413 (1982b). -   Gietzen et al. IRCS Med. Sci., 11:12 (1983). -   Glaser et al., Mol. Microbiol., 2:19 (1988). -   Hong et al., BBRC, 335:850 (2005). -   Kobayashi et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 88, 1037 (1979). -   Ladant et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:4015 (1989). -   Levin et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 12:581 (1976). -   Sala-Newby et al., FEBS Lett., 30:241 (1992). -   Volpi et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 20:363 (1981). -   Watanabe et al., Experientia, 35:1487 (1979). -   Weiss et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 356:319 (1980). -   Wolff et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 173:720 (1976).

While specific embodiments have been described above with reference to the disclosed embodiments and examples, these embodiments and examples are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the invention. Changes and modifications can be made in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the invention in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A kit for detecting ADP in a solution comprising: (i) an adenylate cyclase; (ii) an enzyme that is capable of catalyzing the conversion of ADP to ATP; (iii) a luciferase enzyme; and (iv) a substrate for the luciferase enzyme.
 2. The kit of claim 1 further comprising one or more of: (v) a phosphate group donor; (vi) a pyrophosphatase enzyme; (vii) one or more detergents; (viii) one or more buffer solutions; and/or (ix) one or more salts.
 3. The kit of claim 1 further comprising a phosphate group donor, wherein the enzyme that is capable of catalyzing the conversion of the ADP to ATP is a pyruvate kinase.
 4. The kit of claim 3 wherein the phosphate donor group is phosphoenolpyruvate.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the adenylate cyclase is a bacterial adenylate cyclase, or a fragment of a full length bacterial adenylate cyclase with adenylate cyclase activity.
 6. The kit of claim 5, wherein the bacterial adenylate cyclase or the fragment is from Bordetella pertussis or Bacillus anthracis.
 7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the adenylate cyclase is a eukaryotic adenylate cyclase, an algal adenylate cyclase, a porcine, non-human primate, canine, bovine, rodent, or human adenylate cyclase, or a fragment thereof with adenylate cyclase activity.
 8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the adenylate cyclase is selected from the group consisting of a calmodulin activated eukaryotic adenylate cyclase, a Spirulina platenis adenylate cyclase, ADCY1, ADCY2, ADCY3, ADCY4, ADCY5, ADCY6, ADCY7, ADCY8, ADCY9, ADCY10, adenylate cyclase isoform I, adenylate cyclase isoform III, adenylate cyclase isoform VIII, adenylate cyclase isoform V, adenylate cyclase isoform VI, and a fragment thereof with adenylate cyclase activity.
 9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the adenylate cyclase is adenylate cyclase isoform I, adenylate cyclase isoform III or adenylate cyclase isoform VIII, and a fragment thereof with adenylate cyclase activity, wherein the adenylate cyclase is stimulated by Ca²⁺/calmodulin.
 10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the adenylate cyclase is isoform V, adenylate cyclase isoform VI, and a fragment thereof with adenylate cyclase activity, wherein the adenylate cyclase is inhibited by Ca²⁺ in a calmodulin-independent manner.
 11. The kit of claim 1 further comprising phosphoenolpyruvate. 